Is a Gibson guitar an appropriate gift?

[babylonsister]

I think this was tres' thoughtful.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20270172,00.html

Michelle Obama Presents Carla Bruni-Sarkozy with a Guitar

By Peter Mikelbank and Karen Nickel Anhalt

Originally posted Saturday April 04, 2009 02:00 PM EDT


Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Photo by: Jason Reed / Reuters / LandovMichelle Obama Presents Carla Bruni-Sarkozy with a Guitar


Call Michelle Obama the ultimate guitar hero.

The American First Lady presented French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy with a practical – and very rock 'n' roll – gift: an acoustic Gibson guitar.

Offered "as a sign of friendship', Michelle Obama gave Gibson's "Legend" model, to Bruni, a former model-turned-singer who is currently in the process of recording her fourth album.

The gift, which Michelle Obama brought to France, was presented to Bruni following their visit Saturday to Strasbourg's 12th century cathedral and the city's Renaissance Museum, a source says.

"She and Carla Bruni really hit it off – they had a lovely discussion over lunch yesterday and visited spots in Strasbourg together today with the other NATO spouses," a spokeswoman for Mrs. Obama said.

Bruni acted as translator for Michelle during a guided walking tour inside the cathedral," an observer said. Earlier the pair kissed each other hello and briefly held hands."

The pair met on Friday for the first time.

Following their initial half-hour private meeting on Friday, an Elysées Palace spokesperson said Mrs. Obama has agreed to assist Bruni in her AIDS charity work as an ambassadress for the World Fund.

Next up for the Obamas: the Czech Republic, where the President and the First Lady will honor their private tradition – date night – with a romantic dinner at a restaurant overlooking Prague's famed Charles Bridge, a Czech government source told the London Times Online.

[NYCGirl]

1. That's an INCREDIBLE gift. Gibson is one of the best! NT

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Gibson or Martin, absolutely.

[DevonRex]

6. Grumble, grumble. My sister has a Martin. And a baby grand. She's a republican, too.

:mad:

[Jackeens]

10. My nephew has a Martin. I think it cost more than my house.

[tridim]

20. I have a base model Martin

Think it was about $499. It's really nice for an every day guitar. :)

[DevonRex]

3. I sure would like it. My Epiphone has seen better days. nt

[Jackeens]

7. DevonRex, I've had an Epiphone for 10 years!

And I STILL can't play it.

:blush:

[DevonRex]

9. That just means you need to spend a wee bit more time with it. :)

See, it's just lonely. :hi:

[Jackeens]

12. You're sweet DevonRex, but you're wrong: it's because I'm USELESS!

[Jackeens]

4. Jeez, I might even have married Monsieur Sarkozy to get THAT guitar!!!

[kanrok]

5. Nice

But I'm a Martin guy.

[hedgehog]

8. That's it! I'm inviting the Obamas to MY home next week.

I don't know what they'll bring me, but it should be good.

[Bicoastal]

11. The only people who will complain about this are people who just like to complain.

As a musician, I can tell you that Carla would be OVERJOYED to get a Gibson.

[HopeOverFear]

13. damn, that's some gift

wow.

[AyanEva]

14. Excellent!

Awesome gift. :)

[Liberalalltheway]

16. Maybe they should let Michelle pick the gifts from now on

Even Bill Maher was talking about the Gifts they've given out. Those DVDs to Gordon Brown was just odd. I wonder if they even told Obama about it beforehand.

[Cha]

15. Carla Bruni is quite talented..

she speaks four or five languages, writes music and makes albums, probably cooks too. A gift of a Gibson Guitar seems like it would be very apprecitated as the personal thoughful gift it is..just like the ipod for Elizabeth and the DVDs for Brown:)

Edit~ I keep calling her "Carli".

[Lars39]

17. Yes, indeedy!

Made in the US. Headquartered in Nashville. :)

[Undercurrent]

18. Excellent choice.

Martin outsourced some of it's guitar making to Mexico in 2004, while Gibson is still made exclusively in Tennessee.

[Sebastian Doyle]

19. Gibson Legend would be cool

But a Les Paul would have been better.

[TahitiNut]

21. Which 'Legend' model? The '1942 J-45 Legend' goes for $9 grand.

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/Round-Shoulder/Gibson-Acoustic/1942-J-45-Legend.aspx

The '1937 L-00 Legend' goes for nearly $7 grand.
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/Small-Body/Gibson-Acoustic/1937-L-00-Legend.aspx

[walldude]

30. LOL if you can find a 1942 J-45 legend for $9000 I'll pay you triple

for it tomorrow. However if what you are looking at is a REISSUE of the 1942 J-45 then $7000 is about right. Those reissues are hand made in the Gibson custom shop, they are not quite Gibson's top of the line (That would be a "Dove" which has a waiting list as they are all made by the same person and he can only do 6 a year) but are awesome guitars with incredible tone.

[leftofthedial]

22. big-time phenomenal gift.

Michelle is a classy and first-class First Lady.

leftofthedial approves!





Remember Pickles' sofa-upholstery wardrobe and insane eyes?

[old mark]

23. Gibson still makes fine quality instruments. Prices, however,

will make your eyes water.

mark

Note to Michelle: When you visit, me, I prefer a Les Paul Custom in black, please.(I voted for your husband!!!!)
Your pal,
mark

[madamesilverspurs]

24. Appropriate?

Holy cow, I'd swoon! I bought a Yamaha in 1966, sweet sound! It got its head snapped off by a drunk in the mid 70s and I cried for weeks. Last decent guitar I had got sold to pay rent while I was getting my back fixed. Couple of years ago I blew $40 on Ebay for something to play while stuck at home during chemo, wanted to keep my callouses; tacky little thing, and it sounds like the forty bucks I spent. Basically, I have four callouses in search of some good strings. So like I said, I'd swoon at such a gift. And cry for happy!

[doodadem]

25. I'll have to ask the musician husband......

When he gets back from playing tonight. If anyone in the Fresno area is interested, he's the guitarist for the blues jam band tonight at Full Circle Brewery--the long, tall dude in the flowered shirt. Next Sun., he'll be playing at Crossroads.

I know he has at least one Gibson, and a Telecaster, and about 4 other ones.

[burning rain]

26. I'd say that's a mighty fine gift.

Well tailored to the recipent's interests.

[Arkana]

27. This is an amazing gift and anyone who says otherwise is a poophead.

[mshasta]

28. Guitar Hero from Palin

...if she was the president..

[spooky3]

29. I hope they stayed at the Hotel President in Prague.

Very nice hotel, near the bridge and all the fun places to visit. And aptly named!

[SoxFan]

31. Michelle, can I have a Rickenbacker 330?

Thanks!

[salguine]

38. SoxFan, you are a man after my own heart. Me and my 360 just celebrated our

25th Anniversary last month. And I'd marry her all over again.

[SoxFan]

40. If only I could remember how to play!

Somedat I'll teach myself. Until then, I'll leave the heavy lifting to Peter Buck, Johnny Marr, and Roger McGuinn!

[BlooInBloo]

32. What's inappropriate about it?

[paparush]

33. Its a freakin awesome gift and its..

made in AMERICA!

[Dr.Phool]

34. As long as it's not Mel Gibson's guitar. He'd be pissed.

[JayMusgrove]

35. No wonder why she warmed up to Obama and Michelle!!!!!!!

She was cold on day one, especially with Barack, but OH today, a different story!

[rocktivity]

36. Terrific idea--but for an American-made acoustic guitar

I would have given a Martin or Guild because that's their specialty. This is a Gibson Legend:



:headbang:
rocktivity

[salguine]

37. What musician wouldn't love a new guitar? And if you're giving one as a gift

to the musician wife of a foreign head of state, why not make it an American-built beauty from a company that's made some of the finest guitars in the world for over a hundred years?

If somebody gave me a Gibson legend, I'd totally lose my shit.

[AtomicKitten]

39. I've liked all the gifts the Obamas have given.

They are personal and thoughtful, and that's nice. :)

[Mudoria]

41. If the Obama's could drop by and give me a '57 Les Paul

I'd be most appreciative!

[zulchzulu]

42. Does it have any electric-acoustic electronics on board?

Granted, you could just have a Beyerdynamic M160 or a Shure SM57 to make that guitar sound good in a studio... that is one pretty guitar though.